Will ensure rights of Pasmanda Muslims even if EC hangs me: Khurshid

Sticking to his stand on minorities, Congress leader Salman Khurshid has said he would ensure the rights of Pasmanda Muslim community even if the Election Commission “hangs” him.

Addressing an election rally in Khatakpur locality on Friday night, the Law Minister said that EC had censured him, but even if the “Commission hangs him or does anything else”, he would ensure that people of Pasmanda community get their rights.

“Can’t I even say that Pasmanda Muslims would get their due?” he said, adding that Congress was set to hoist the tricolour in the state Assembly after 22 years.

The Commission had censured Mr. Khurshid for his remarks on sub-quota for minorities, finding them to be a violation of the model code of conduct for elections.

Mr. Khurshid, while campaigning for his wife Louise, a Congress candidate from Farrukhabad Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh, had promised the electorate last month that the party would increase the sub-quota for minorities to nine per cent, out of the 27 per cent Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation.

The EC order had come on BJP’s complaint about Mr. Khurshid’s remarks, asking the Commission to take action against him for violation of model code of conduct.

Respect the law of land.Is Mr.Kurshid a law minister. Shame for our PM to keep him.

from:
v.natrajan

Posted on: Feb 14, 2012 at 09:03 IST

Congressmen in their desperation to save the career of Rahul Gnadhi in UP are stooping to new lows.While one general secretary says Batla encounter is fake the Law Minister even dares EC on Muslim reservation while being in a constitutional post.Its shocking to see a suave and intelligent man like salman khursheed fall prey to vote bank politics. Congress in its lust for power is threading a dangerous communal path from which there can be no going back.I sincerely hope people of UP reject congress for its communal politics.

from:
chinmay

Posted on: Feb 12, 2012 at 13:08 IST

He has no right continue. He should resign

from:
chemmalil

Posted on: Feb 12, 2012 at 12:45 IST

I just do not understand the controversy here.Salman Khurshid is a Union Minister alright.Does that prohibit him from campaigning for the party he represents? No.In his speech,he has only reiterated what is already published in the election manifesto of the congress party in the state,that too if the party gains majority to rule.Is that not what every other party does during election campaign?

from:
Raju Varghese

Posted on: Feb 12, 2012 at 11:19 IST

I had a very good image of Salman Khursheed but now I don't see him to be any different from the breed of politicians we have. Mr Khursheed, EC is not in the business of hanging people and why you want to be a martyr ? No one can be hanged for talking of upliftment of any community and you know that. So why you had to add "even if EC hangs me" ? Because you know you are doing something which is not legally permitted. I do not know, if EC will hang you or not, but I will like people of your constituency to hang you politically at the next elections.

from:
Harleen

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 22:28 IST

This is a brazen misconduct of a cabinet minsiter. He has openly defied the electoral laws. The CEC has legitimately taken objection to this misconduct and has taken up the matter with the President.

from:
S Subramanyan

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 21:08 IST

Mr. Khurshid being a senior minister should know that Election Commission of India is not in the hanging business. It would have been nice if he would have strived for better education, socio-
economic conditions and justice for muslims and for that matter all the citizens of this nations. He has been in an enviable position to do so and being a senior minister should consider it a duty to do so. Had he even made little efforts, the citizens of this nation would have been thankful to him. And why do not you want to strive for the well being of all the citizens this nations.

from:
Rishi Sharma

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 18:55 IST

Shame!! How can one justify the undermining of constitutional institutions like EC by those in the Government.

from:
ajay

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 17:10 IST

This is yet one more indication, to what extent this congress party can go to grab power and how important the "power" is for this party. The Nation is going to pay very heavy price if this party comes to power, even, indirectly in UP. The 50-80 odd congress MLA s are sufficient to create havoc on the people of UP, supporting some dummy party from "outside". It will be repeatation of what happened in center where the congressmen grabbed the power and ruined the nation in 10 years.

from:
Kanu Mistry

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 16:17 IST

The Union LAW Minister is virtually challenging the EC.PM will be silent.Constitutional functionaries deserve due respect.The President should suitably advise PM. Scams proliferate.People in high places escape from law.Ministers watch porn materials inside legislative assembly.What a shame.The country is in shambles.There is no governance worth mentioning.It is high time to bring some sanity.

from:
S.Srinivasan

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 16:13 IST

This is the first kind of minority appeasement possible. It is dreadful to have such politicians around who can stoop to any level and give total disregard for code of conduct and law for vote bank politics.

from:
Vimal

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 16:09 IST

Law maker cannot be a law braker, maybe Salman Khurshid doesn't consider him one among the law makers.

Nobody prevents him from speaking for the minorities, but it should be at the appropriate place and time.

As is usual, the PM will remain mute to these events.

from:
Chennaiguy

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 15:54 IST

I don't understand why would a union minister make such a comment(everyone knows that nobody is going to hang somebody for just making false promises). Instead of praising the EC for performing its duty without any bias towards the party ruling in Delhi,the comment of the minister projects EC as somebody coming in between the development of community and the minister.

from:
Himanshu

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 15:33 IST

For the sake of vote,the people like Salman Khurshid will go to any extent.

from:
A.SESHAGIRI

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 15:03 IST

Okay do it but why shouting and why shouting at election time only. Please try to respect election commission.

Where were you last 8 years of UPA government. By the way ever thought of Kashmiri Pandit's rights, you are a union law minister, why a particular cast is your 'Blue eyed boy'.

@The Hindu: You are the only news paper who is doing right 'Reporting' only not favoring anybody, I appreciate it, keep up the good job, India needs you.

from:
Deep

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 14:58 IST

Our country will start improving and begin on a good civilisation the day when these power-hungry "minority" promoters are driven out of our parliament and assembly. Congress has always been a promoter of "divide&rule" policy

from:
Deepak

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 14:57 IST

In view of this display of muscle by Mr Khurshid, I feel that the EC should be given prosecutorial powers in all election-related matters. Otherwise censures seem to have little effect on the ministers. The Pasmanda Muslims' welfare surely wouldn't have suffered even if Mr Khursheed had made the quota announcement after the election. This is clearly an immoral flexing of muscles by Mr Khursheed.

from:
Aritra Gupta

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 14:47 IST

He has undermined the authority of the EC. Will action be taken against him? He definitely deserves legal action.

from:
Aritra Gupta

Posted on: Feb 11, 2012 at 14:41 IST

Mr. Khurshid as law minister is violating the election rules wilfully. UPA govt should act against him for being unethical besides behaving in a non-secular manner trying to entice Muslim voters.